More than 1,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and volunteers from across Scotland came together in Dundee for World Thinking Day on February 22. World Thinking Day is the annual celebration of the birthday of the first Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell (born in 1889).
Girlguiding Scotland members of all ages raced around the City of Discovery completing challenges inspired by Dundee from visiting the V&A, taking selfies with statues depicting the city’s journalistic roots, to learning about Dundee’s textile industry and life sciences at the University of Dundee. The day ended on a high at Caird Hall with a special Promise ceremony, which included an appearance from Girlguiding Scotland’s lead volunteer, Moira McKenna. The ceremony itself was led by some of the charity’s young members and involved hundreds of girls making their guiding Promise to do their best to help others and make a positive difference in their communities.
Ms McKenna said: “What an absolutely fantastic day we’ve had here in Dundee celebrating World Thinking Day, one of the most important days in the guiding calendar. Today we saw over 1,000 girls get together to take on challenges and champion diversity and equality. Girlguiding Scotland is proud to be an inclusive organisation and a safe space for girls to be themselves.”
Wander the World was just one of the many Thinking Day celebrations taking place across the globe with thousands of members taking part in activities, speaking out about issues affecting them and their community and learning about other countries and cultures to celebrate the Thinking Day 2020 themes of diversity, equity and inclusion. The day has been celebrated every February since 1926, with more than 10 million girls in Girl Guide and Girl Scout groups around the world taking part.
Brownie, Maisy, said: “I’ve had so much fun celebrating World Thinking Day with all my friends. I really liked doing the crafts and I really liked it that all the activities were a surprise!”
Her Brownie leader, Nicole Harland, said: “World Thinking Day is all about coming together and celebrating the diversity within Guiding. It’s been great to see girls take on challenges and learn more about Guiding around the world. My Brownies have had so much fun and know that Guiding will always be here for them, whatever they are up to.”